Staying on yesterday’s topic of the current NASA moon mission, the word used when they were launched was the word ‘Godspeed.’
As Reuters reported: ‘Launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson said: “Reid, Victor, Christina and Jeremy, on this historic mission you take with you the heart of this Artemis team, the daring spirit of the American people and our partners across the globe, and the hopes and dreams of a new generation.” She then added, “Good luck, godspeed, Artemis II. Let’s go!”’
Now this is a very dated (and to us rather odd) word ‘Godspeed’—so where does it come from, and what does it mean?
The word goes back to around 1500, and the Oxford English Dictionary says it is used to express a wish for the success of a person who is setting out on some journey or enterprise.
It is used as a formal and old-fashioned way to wish success to someone who is leaving especially on a journey.
‘Speed’ comes from the Old English spēd, which referred to prosperity, good fortune, and success.
‘Godspeed’ comes from the Middle English phrase God spede you (meaning “God prosper you”) which was used to wish someone a prosperous journey.
Today we think of ‘speed’ as meaning rapid movement.
In fact, that’s almost the only way we use it these days.
But something of the older, broader, meaning of ‘speed’ lives on in the phrase ‘up to speed’ which we still use.
In the past the word was used to name the result of speed—namely, getting on top of things and succeeding (often with the result being prosperity).
The expression ‘up to speed’ later picked up an extended meaning in reference to the act of giving someone all the information they need in order to be effective.
So, now you are up to speed.
And I can only wish you ‘Godspeed’!
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The latest issue of Australian Geographic is now at newsagents -- with a big beaked kookaburra on the front cover, and inside my two small columns on 'Ozwords' and 'Placenames.'
BOOKS:
* My latest book is called Pray Like This. To look at prayer I do what I do in these Ozword columns: I go through the most famous prayer in the world (The Lord’s Prayer, also known as the Our Father) and unpack it word by word—each chapter being a short word-study on a key word in that prayer. There is a total of 21 words studies in all. To find out more, here’s a link to the publisher’s website (where you can buy a copy if you wish): Pray Like This – matthiasmedia.com.au
* My book is Sherlock Holmes: 5-Minute Mysteries -- containing 50 new stories I have written about the great detective. You can find it on Amazon. Just go to Amazon and type in Sherlock Holmes: 5-Minute Mysteries in the search panel. Or use this link: h Amazon.com.au : Sherlock Holmes 5-Minute Mysteries Kel Richards
* My book "Defending the Gospel" is now in a second, fully revised, edition. You can find it here: Defending the Gospel – matthiasmedia.com.au
* If you're looking for my recent book "Flash Jim" you'll find it here -- Flash Jim, The astonis
hing story of the convict fraudster who wrote Australia's first dictionary by Kel Richards | 9781460759769 | Booktopia
* You can find all Kel's books currently in print here -- Booktopia Search Results for 'kel richards'. We sell books, hardback, paperback, audio, CDs.
* And also here -- Amazon.com.au : Kel Richards
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* Many of Kel's out of print books can be found at ABE Books -- Kel Richards - AbeBooks explaining words explain the term
BY THE WAY...
If you'd like to see my A-Z list of Aussie slang, you'll find it here in the Australian Geographic website -- A-Z list of Aussie slang. Here’s the link: The A-Z of Aussie slang - Australian Geographic
The liveliest part of this website is usually the Q and A page -- be sure to check it out from time to time.
